Method of manufacturing segments of turbine-blades.



J. W. MOORE.

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SEGMENTS 0F TURBINE BLADES.

' APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24, 1914. 1,187,446.

III

Patented June 13, 1916.

1 STATES xosnrn w; moons, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, Assmnonro ALms-ns AOTUBDTG comm, or ILWAUKEE; WISCONSIN, A conronnrron or DELAWARE.

I SEGMNTS OF TURBINIHBLADES.

Specification of Letters Patent, Patented June 13 1916.

Original application filed August 11, 1913, Serial No. 784,633. Divided and this application filed February 24, 1914. Serial No. 821,816.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it lmown that I, JOSEPH W. Moons, a citizen of the United States, residing at West Allis, Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Methods of Manufacturing Segments of Turbine-Blades, of which-the following is a a method which will insure accuracy of spacing and angling of the blades as well as correct radial position, and accuracy of the unmachinable wall of the space between blades and generally facility of production of correct segments.

This case is a division of application Serial No. 784,633, filed August '11, 1913, in

which case one form of apparatus adapted to carry out the present process isdisclosed.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 shows a plan .yiew of a frame having clamped thereto a plurality of blades having a shroud strip connected thereto. Fig 2 is a sectional view of the showing in Fig. 1 on the line IIH thereof, the section through the notched blade positioning strip being taken between successive notches. Fig. 3 is a developed end view of the same. Fig. 4 is a sectional side view of the same showing in addition strips temporarily clamped on opposite sides of the plurality of blades. Fig. 5

,. is a plan view of the showing of Fig. 4,

additionally showing a tamping tool in operative relation. Fig. 6 is an end view of the tamping tool. Fig. 7 is a transverse sec tional detail view of the segment with the Q blades lying in position within the mold shown in section. Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional detail view of the segment with the blades calked into position in the turbine spindle or casing.

veifect interlock same to the support.

.ment of blades.

Referring to the drawings, a segment shaped frame 1 having an arc-shaped stop portion 2 at one end, has connected thereto permanently or otherwise, a notched strip 3, also arc-shaped and in parallel relation with the stop portion 2. The notches of the strip 3 are so formed that their side walls hug the blade faces at the edge portions thereof as shown in Fig. 3, and tend to hold the blades in their proper angular positions and in Side blocks 4, 5, are positioned at the respective sides of the frame 1 and with reference to the notches of strip 3, see Fig. 3, so as to insure correct angling and radial positioning of the blades 15, and are of thickness substantially equal to the width of the seg- An arc-shaped clamping strip 6 extends from block 4 to block 5 across the segment of blades, and lies parallel to the stop portion 2. Stud bolts 7, 7, extend through the clamping strip 6 and side blocks 4,-5, into the frame 1 and serve Y to hold the segment of blades in place on the flame. Other stud bolts 8, 8, pass through blocks 4, 5, and into frame 1, serv ing to additionally secure these blocks in place. A strip of asbestos paper 9 may extend underneath clamping strip 6 and be tween it and the blocks 4, 5, and segment of blades, see Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Strips 11, 12,

may be temporarily clamped at opposite sides of the segment of blades by means of clamps 13, 14. In using the method or process of this invention aplurality of blades 15 are connected to a shroud strip 10 by forming integral tenons of irregular section at the ends of the blades and passing same into correspondingly shaped holes punched into the shroud strip. This will insure proper angling of the blades in the strip. A temporary fastening connection of any kind may be used. The segment of blades thus temporarily assembled is placed in position on the frame .1 with the shroud strip against the stop portion 2 and the blades in their respective notches of strip 3. The end blade is brought into correct angular and radial position with its concave working face in coaetion with the adjacent surface of the block 5 by simultaneously swinging, if necessary, the blades in their retaining notches as centers, thus "skewing the entire segment into correct position. After being sure that-the shroud strip 10 is against the stop portion 2 at all points and the end blade against its side block 5, the clamping strip 6 with its under,- lying asbestos paper 9 is brought down upon the segment blades and clamped to the frame and against the side blocks 4, 5. The paper prevents injury to the blade .edges. With the blades 15 thus clamped, the end blade 15 adjacent the block 5 hasits concave working face in contact with the adjacent convex surface of the block 5, and the end of the blade 15 adjacent the block 4 has its convex working face in contact. with the adjacent concave surface of the block 4, see Figs. 1

and 3. After ramming sand between the .blades, the strips 11, 12, are temporarily clamped on opposite sides respectively of the segment of blades with their edges adj acent the ends of the blades in line and in a position a short distance nearer the adjacent ends of the blades than would correspond to the limit of entry of cast metal between the blades, see Fig. 4, and the sand is then brushed out or otherwiseremoved from between the ends of the blades up to the edges of the strips 11, 12. These strips 11, 12, are then moved away from the ends of the blades the same short distance referred to, 'see Fig. 5, and a tamping tool 16, having a cross section substantially equal to the cross section of the space between two blades, is rammed between each two of the blades until a shoulder 17 formed thereonis brought into contact with the ends of the blades. This will gage and positively determine the limit of entry of the cast metal between the blades during the casting, operation. The strips 11, 12, are now removed.

A mold of sand having previously been prepared by embedding a pattern therein of the proper shape to accommodate the substitution of the frame as prepared with its segment of blades and also to additionally form a space 18 in the mold adapted to .receive the castmetal about the ends of the blades of the segment, the frame with the segment of blades is placed therein with the free ends of the blades projecting into the space 18, see Fig. 7. 'The mold after insertion of the frame and blade segments is' then properly closed by the cope, proper and necessary sprue and riser openings having been formed leading to and from the space 18 for the cast metal. The ends of the blades, it should be stated, may be notched or roughened or formed in any way to make a positive lock with the cast metal, see Figs.

2, 4, 7and. 8. The metal is then cast about the ends of the blades andjasedmi as the It should be understood that it is not de sired. to be limited to the exact details of construction of apparatus shown and demetal has set the frame is removed from the scribed, or details of process disclosed, for

ob vious modifications 'will occur to a person skilled in the art.

It isclaimed and desired to secure by Letters' Patent, 1

1.. The process of manufacturing a turbine segment of blades which consists in clamping a plurality of blades in spaced 4 and angled relation to a support, casting metal around the free ends of said blades, and loosening said support from said blades after saidcastmetal has set and before completion of contraction due to cooling.

2. The process of manufacturing a turbine segment of. blades which consists in connecting spacing means to a plurality of blades, clamping said blades in spaced and angled relation to a support, casting metal around the free ends ofsaid blades, and

loosening said support from said blades after saidcast metal has set and before completion of contraction due to cooling.

3. The process of manufacturing a turbine segment of blades which consists in clamping a plurality ofblades in. spaced and angled relation to a support, casting metal around the free ends of, said blades, and loosening said support from said blades as soon as said cast metal has set.

4. The process of manufacturing a turbine segment of blades which consists in connecting -spacing means to a plurality of blades, clamping said blades in spaced and angled relation to a sup ort, casting metal around the free ends of said blades, and loosening said support from said blades as soon as said cast metal has set.

In testimony. whereof, the signature of the inventor is aflixed hereto in the presence of two wltnesses.

JOSEPH. w. Moons.

Witnesses i a W. H. Lmarn,

G. F. DE WEIN; 

